Heat exchange structure



w. w. STUART 2,198,136

HEAT EXCHANGE STRUCTURE Filed July 26, 1957 CURRENT SJPPU e5 I se April 23, y1940.

Patented 23, 1940 UNITED STATES HEAT EXCHANGE STRUCTURE wnusm w. stam, ne. Moine, im y Application July 28, 1937, Serial No. 155,749

12 Claims. (Cl. 237-53) The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for heat exchange, particularly adapted for utilizing heat from air as radiant heat. I propose to provide a system that secures the 5 desirable effects of radiant heat, using air as the heat conveying medium. In this system I am able to retain features found in warm air systems, including air circulation, air cleaning, -humidlficatlon, and provision for ventilation (for. l quick removal of smoke and odors).

It is particularly my object to .provide such a structure including a radiator which will radiate heat from the air to a room in which it is located. the apparatus being so constructed that l the air may be discharged, in whole or in part,

to the room, or returned in whole or'in part to the heater 'and the air discharged to the room may be returned in whole or in part to the heater.

Another object is to provide such a structure having a humidifier by which all or any part of the air used for heating can be humidifled before being thus discharged or returned.

Another object is to provide in such a system, radiators that can be partly or wholly inset in g5 the room wall.

Stillanother purpose is to provide a system which is adapted for heat exchange for either heating or cooling.

It is also my object to provide a structure of the kind mentioned, adapted for use `with automatic controls.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims. and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating the arrangement of a heater associated with a radiator in a gravity system, embodying my invention, the radiator forming a part of the wall.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the radiator forming a part of my apparatus equipped with a humidifier, one end being omitted.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, illustrating the application of my invention to a forced air heating system, in which radiating surface forms part of three of the walls of a room.

vision for taking outside air into the system.

PATENT ori-lcs It will be understood that my system can be used for heating or cooling.

Radiator My invention centers around the idea of ra- #I diating heat from aradiator, in which air is used as the heat conveying medium. I'. shall, therefore, rst describe a form of radiator which may be used to carry out my idea.

In Figure 2 I have shown a radiator consisting l0 of a casing I5, which may be of sheet metal and has a top, bottom, front, back and ends. 'I'he bottom is indicated at I6 and the front at I1.

A horizontal partition I8 is spaced a short distance above the bottom I8 and extends from end "l5 to end of the casing I5 and extends from the front toward the back of the casing. At its rear part, the partition I8 is connected with the bottom I6 by a vertical wall member I9.

Warm air is supplied i'rom -an air heater l'20 through a duct 20 extending upwardly through the bottom of the casing and through the partition I8 and discharging into the casing just above the partition I8. o

Just back of the duct 2li is an upright partition .z5 22 which extends from end tovend and from the partition I8 nearly tothe top of the casing I5.

Leading from the bottom of the casing I5 and located rearwardly with relation to the wall I9 is a duct 23 for conducting air away from the f-ao casing.

In the wall I9 is an opening 21. The front wall ilhas a horizontal elongated opening 28 below the partition I8 for the discharge of air into the room. A `damper 30 is hinged to swing to position for closing the end of the duct 23 or for closing the opening 21 or to a variety oi?v positions between those extremes.

As shown, the damper 30 has a stem 3| extending to exterior of the casing I5 and provided with a. control arm 32.

Thus air is admitted to the casing I5 from the duct 2II. It may pass out through the hole 21 and around the duct 20 and through the opening 28, or it may pass out through the duct 23. Further explanation of Figure 2 will be made in connection with the description of the humidifier and the controls. g

In Figure 1, I have shown at III a basement room in which is located heating means Il. I2 is a room to be heated. In this particular form of my invention the radiator Il .is shown inset into the wall I4.

In this figure is shown a gravity job in which the room I2 is provided with a door register II through which air passes to a'duct'42 leading to -rectly to the room through openings Mb and 44e and slot 44d. The size of the opening `of the slot 44d may be regulated by the slide 44e.

In Figure 3 I have shown another modification. The heater 45 is in the basement 46 and supplies Warm air through pipes 41 to wall radiators 46, similar to radiator 44 of Figure 1, extending substantially around the room and having outlets 49 at their lower parts for allowing air to flow into the room along the floor. -Through a register 50 return air passes to the duct 5| and through the blower 52 to the furnace.

In Figure 4 is illustrated a different form of radiator indicated generally at 60, which may be used for heating and cooling.

A vertical partition 6| extends from end 'to end of the radiator 66 and terminates below the top and above the bottom of'the radiator. A hori- 4zontal partition 62 extends rearwardly from the front of the radiator.

A duct 63 leads from the heater 64 through the bottom of the radiator 60 and through the partition 62 into the space 66.

Spaced rearwardly from the partition 6|v is a similar partition' 61, which terminates below the top and above the bottom of the radiator'and which separates space 68 from space 69. A damper 10 hinged at the -top of partition 61 may be moved to position to close the opening into the top of space 68 or to position to close the opening between the space 69 on one side and the spaces 66 and 68 on the other side.

Hingedl nea` the bottom of the radiator 60, directly below the partition 61 is a damper 12 which in its lowered position closes the opening v between space 68 and the return duct 13 and opens space 68 to space 16 which'latter is below space 69 and' is separated from 69 by horizontal the room v19 through opening 65. The outlet 65- is closed when desired by adjustable slide damper 82 locked in place byclamping screw 83. The damper 12 in its upper position in line with partition 61, closes the opening between space 68 on the one side and spaces 69 and 16 on the other side. Damper 12 moved to the forward edge of partition 14, opens space 69 to space 68 and at the same time closes the opening between spaces 69 and 16 and between spaces 66 and 16.

A duct 25 connects to the return duct 13 and leads to a blower 24. The blower 24 discharges to the heater 64.

Outside air may be'supplied through the duct 25. At the intake end of duct 25 is a gravity closed damper 26.

In the top of the radiator 60 is an opening 80 for which there is. provided a hinged door 8|.

A control motor 86 (see Figure 2) is operatively connected with one end of the stem or shaft 40 of the damper 34. Current is furnished to the controlmotor 86 by wires 86a and 86h from line wires 86e and 86d. I'he operation of the control motor is controlled by means of a humidostat 85 suitably located and connected to the control motor 86 by a suitable cable 86e.

A hinged damper 68 is mounted to control air flow from the duct 20 to the radiator. 'I'he damper 88 on a shaft 88a, is operatively connected with a control motor. 81'. A thermostat 90 suitably located, preferably in the space to be conditioned, is operatively associated with the control motor 81 in the usual Way, as by means of a cable 90a. 'I'he control motor 81 is supplied with current through the wires 86C and 86d. It will be understood that a radiator mounted in a wall, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 maybe provided with a top discharge damper for summer cooling operation, although this structure is not shown in detail in Figures 1 and 3. Such a top damper is shownvin Figure 4.

' Humidmer My structure lends itself readily to the use ofA n a humidifier either at the heater or in the radiator.

I have shown a humidi'er 33 of the pan type equipped with wicks 35 in Figures' 2 and 4.

A spray type or steamer type of humidifier could be adapted to my device.

In Figure 2 the humidifier is in the top of the radiator back of the partition 22 and in Figure 4 itis in the upper part of space 69.

Hinged to the top of the front wall of the humidifier 33 is a damper 34 (see Figure 2) which may be moved to position for closing the passage between the humidifier 33 and the upper edge-of the partition 22, or to its upper position, where it extends from the humidifier to the top of the radiator. or to various intermediate posiy tions.

When the damper 34 is in any lowered position and the humidifier supplied with water, it is obvious that some or all of the air passes over and between the wick members 35, and of course tends to take up moisture from the wick members. f

Water may be supplied to the humidifier manually'or under automatic control. I provide in the top of the casing I5 an opening 39 covered by the closure 38 for aifording convenient access to the humidiiier.

The damper 34 may be manipulated manually if the control motor 86 is not used.

Operation I shall now refer to the operation of my heat exchange structure.

In the structure shown in Figure 1 the heated air from the furnace Il travels to the radiator 44 through the duct 43 which discharges to the right of the baille 44a and thence upwardly and around the baille 44a and so on downwardly and .out of the front of the radiator through the opening 44d. The size of that opening may be regulated by means of the adjustable slide damper 44e, to control the volume of air discharged and to vary to some extent the velocity of air discharged through the openings 44e and 44h, for thus partially'varying and regulating the amount of heat delivered to the room by convection. 'I'hus as the air travels from the heater some will pass out of the pipe 43 through the openings 44o and the opening 44d to the room. Suilicient air will travel upwardly to the upper part of the radiator to keep the front of the radiator warm. Part of this air may pass out of the openings 44b and the balance go over the baffle' 44a, traveling downward -to the bottom oi' the radiator where it is discharged through the opening 44d. i

The form of device shown here (Figure 1) is o 44o and 44h will not be necessary.

My radiator construction is such that the benefits of radiant heat may be had in a high degree. The effect of radiant heat varies with the area of radiating surface that may be seen by the occupant of the heated space. My radiator is arranged so that a great percentage of the radiating surface can be seen. Visible radiating surface is much more effective than shielded or hidden surface. i

In many forms in which my `invention may be embodied, the radiator may be located in the wall and the advantage of that kind of structure will be obvious. In such an arrangement, as shown in Figure 1, the radiator does not project into the room. It may be made to partly project into the room. This may be desirable where I want to provide a slot `like opening 80 (Figure 4) for summer operation.

All the forms of my device lend themselves readily to a. structure whereby air may be dis` charged into the room 'at the bottom of the radiator along the floor or into the room in any other zone from floor to ceiling. 'Ihe radiators can be of any height desired.

In the use of my radiator the Iair is supplied from the heater to the space adjacent the front wall of the radiator ior bringing the warmest air into contact with the front wall and thus getting the maximum benet of heating the room by` radiant heat.

If it be desired to return the air to the heater without adding humidity, the damper 34 (Figure 2) is raised and the damper 30 lowered, whereupon the air from the heater will travel upwardly over the top of the partition 22, thence downwardly through the opening 21 and opening 28 to the room. Y

When the room reaches the temperature for which the thermostat 80 is set, the thermostat functions to cause the motor 81 to operate for closing the damper 88 and preventing the further delivery ofwarm air to the radiator from the heater.

If it be desired to return the air to the heater without delivering any to the room, the damper 30 is raised to close the opening 21 and allow the air; to return through the duct 23.

It it is desired to return part ofthe air 4from i the radiator to the heater and to discharge part of it into the room, the damper 30 is moved to some intermediate position and the result desired can thus be conveniently accomplished. Relative proportions of air delivered to the room and returned to the`heater can be determined by the properpositioning of the damper 30. It will, of course, be understood that the air discharged into the room may be'returned to the heater by partition 22 and between the humidiiier wicks. 36 and thence downwardly. following the path previously described.

When the humidity is built up until the humidostat 86 is actuate the motor 46 for moving the damper 34 to its raised position for preventing the passage of air through the humidostat. y

Water may be supplied to the humidifier through the opening covered by the closurev 38 or may be Asupplied by any suitable known automatic water flow control means.

The operation of the particular form of radiator shown in Figure 3 may be similar to that of the device of any of the 'other three figures. Figure 3 is intended to show primarily how the radiator may be arranged as part of the wall of the room.

In Figure 4 I have shown a radiator which affords a high degree of flexibility in the control of air. When the dampers 10 and 12 are both in substantially vertical position, the heated air flows into the compartment or space 66 through the duct 63 from the heater 64, passes over the top of the partition 6I and thence downwardly lthrough the space 68 to the return duct 13, then through the duct and fan 24 to the heater.

satisfied. the humidostat wm again As the air passes over the front 60a of the radiator 6U, radiant heat passes into the room. If it is desired to augment the radiant heat by some convected heat, the damper 12 is swung toward the partition 6l, permitting the air to pass from the space 68 into the space 16 and thence through the opening 66 into the room 19. The position of the damper 12 determines the proportion of air which will be discharged into the room.

. 'I'hus air, without being humidifled, may be returned to the heater directly or discharged into the room or divided and returned in part directly to the heater and discharged in part to the room, as may be desired.

I have provided the damper 26 so that any loss of air in the system may be made up by drawing in outside air. This" is particularly useful in Ventilating and clearing out smoke, cooking odors, etc. By the proper positioning of the damper 12, the air of a house can be changed very rapidly.

The volume, and to some extent the velocity of the air flow into the room can be varied by changing the size of the slot 65 by adjustment of the slide 62. By lowering the damper 10 from its raised position any desired portion of the air may be made to pass between the wicks 35 of the humidifier 33. When the damper 12 is in line with the partition 61, all of the humidifled air will be discharged into the room, and air passing downwardly through the space 68 will be returned to the heater directly through the duct 13.

With the damper 12 swung over to position to engage the 'partition 14, all humidified air and all the dry air passing through the space 68 will be returned directly to the duct 13 and thence to the heater.

With the damper 12 in an intermediate position between the `partition 14 and the partition 61, all the dry air passing downwardly through the space 68 will be returned through the duct 13. The humidified air will be divided and part of it will be returned to the heater through the duct 13 and part of it will pass into the space 16 and thence into the room.

When the damper is in the position closing the upper end of the duct `13, all the dry air and all the humidied air passes into space 16 and then into the room.

When the damper 12 is in an intermediate position between that just described and that where itis aligned with the partition .61 (one of which intermediate positions is illustrated in full lines in Figure 4) the humidined air will pass into the room and the dry air will be divided. It is obvious that in some of the intermediate positions of` the damper 12, the flow of air may vary somewhat from that described. The air flow will be somewhat determined by the position of the damper 10.

Ordinarily humidied air would not be returned directly to the heater through duct 13. However where the heater is supplying apluirality of radiators in different locations and some other space is callingv for humidied air, it is obvious that the arrangement of Figure l4 is such that humidiled air may,if the operator so desires, be returned to the heater through the duct 13. Thus the humidifier in'the radiator 60 might be employed to supply humidifed air to the furnace for-discharge in another location.

My arrangement lends itself to summer operation. It will be understood that during ordinary heating operations the damper 8| is closed. In the summer the adjustable slide 82 may be moved to close the opening 65 Then the damper 8l is raised. Then if cool night air be supplied to the duct 63, it can be discharged upthrough the duct 13 and this cdol air will lower the temperature of the vfront wa'll 60a of the radiator 60 and this cool surface will absorb heat from the room. 1

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the heating plant 64 acts as the temperature changer, its temperature being lowered bythe cool air of the basement and it in turn lowers the temperature of the air passing through it. 'I'his method of operating may bev used during the hot part Advantages The structure herein described combines the advantages of radiant heat heretofore available only in such systems as those using steam or hot water in direct radiation with the advantages of air circulation, ventilation and air conditioning, which are peculiar to air heating systems.

At the same time it avoids some of the disadvantages of a tight system using steam or hot water.

An air system does not have to be absolutely tight because the pressure of the medium is low and leakage of the medium from the system or leakage of air into the system is not followed by the bad'effects accompanying leaks in a system in which steam or water is the heat conveying medium.

Steam and hot water systems employing only direct radiation cannot be adapted for adequate ventilation or air conditioning without the provision of what is in effect another system. In my system the same air can be used for heating by radiant heat and for heating by convection and for vsupplying humidity to a room and providing ventilation and inducing circulation. The air can be cleaned by an air washer or ,other means or additional air furnished or both. In other Words, all the advantages of the ordinary air 'heating system can be retained and the advantage of heating by radiant heat added thereto.

This system may be used for heat transfer purposes where desired to either heat or cool a room.

With my system, a very simple adjustment makes it possible to vary the relative humidity of diii'erent spaces to be heated and to supply humidity from the radiator in one such space to another space.

'I'hus I provide a system of great flexibility retaining desirable features of warm air systems and adding tothem the benefits of radiant heat.

I claim:

1. Means for heating a room, said means including a blower for moving air means for heating air, a radiator for radiating heat from air to the room, means for conducting air from the air heating means to the radiator, ductmeans for conducting air awayy from the radiator directly to the heating means without permitting the air to enter the room, and adjustable means for permitting air fiow from the radiator to the room.

2. Means for heating a room, including an air heating device, a radiator for radiating heat from air to the room, means for conducting air from the device to the radiator, and means whereby air from the radiator is selectively discharged into the room or returned to the device without entering the room.

3. Means for heating a room, including an air heating device, a radiator for radiating heat from air to the room, means'for conducting air from the device to the radiator, and means whereby air from the radiator is selectively discharged into the room or returned to the device without entering the room, o'ris partially discharged into the room and partially` returned to thedevice without entering the room.

4. Means for heating a room, including an air heating device, a radiator for radiating heat from air to the room, means for conducting air from the device to the radiator, and means whereby air from the radiator is selectively discharged into the room or elsewhere, or partially into the room and partially elsewhere.

5. In a heating system, means for conducting air from an air heater, a radiator for receiving the air and radiating heat from it to a space to be heated, and means for selectively discharging theair from the radiator into the room or away from the room.

6. In a heating system, means for conducting air from an air heater, a radiator for receiving the air and discharging it into a room, said radiator having a humidifier, and control structure for causing the air to be subjected to the humidifier or by-passed around it, or partially subjected to the humidifier and partially bypassed around it, and means for discharging the humidiiied air to the room and returning the unhumidifled air to the heater.

7. In a. heating system, means for conducting air from an air heater,a radiator for receiving `the air and radiating heat from it to a room to be heated, and means for selectively discharging the air from the radiator into the room or away from the room, the radiator having a large radiating surface in proportion to the cross section of the air passage within the radiator.

8. In a heating system an air heater, a radiator, means for supplying heated air from the heater to the radiator. said radiator having a humidifier to which the air passing through the radiator may be subjected, and means for selectively causing the ow of humidied air to the heater or directly to the room to be heated, or

` both.

9. In a heating system, means for conducting air from an air heater, a radiator for receiving the air and discharging it into the room, said I radiator having a humidier, and control structure for causing the air to be subjected to the humidiiier or by-passed around it, or partially subjected to the humidifier and partially bypassed around it, and means for selectively causing iiow of humidiiied air to the heater or to the room to be heated, or both.

10. In a heat transfer system, a radiator for transferring heat to or from a room through the walls of the radiator, duct means for conducting air to the radiator, and a means for changing the temperature of air, operatively associated with said duct means, and air iiow control means 5 forselectively causing the ow of humidied air to the temperature changing means or to the room to be heated, or both.

11. In a heat exchange system, an air temperature changing device, a radiator for a space to be heated, the radiator having a front wall,

a duct for conducting air from the device to the radiator, means for conducting air from the radiator to the device, and adjustable means for allowing air to pass from the radiator after it vhas traversed the front wall of the radiator.

12. In a, heating system, an air heater, a rai-l,y

diator, means for supplying heated air from the 'heater to the radiator,said radiator having a humidiiier to which the air passing through the passing through the radiator to be subjected to the humidifier or by-passed around it, and a humidostat for controlling the operation of said structure according to the humidity requirements of the space to be heated from the radiator.

WILLIAM W. STUART. I0 

